Night Fall, Regret

Night Fall, Regret

A man I knew died today.
He had driven himself to hospital
Sweating and shaking
From heart failure,
The way some diabetics do.
The attack was just a symptom.
Too much of his liver had died,
His body buoyed with toxins.
One by one
His organs faltered.
He lasted long enough
For the family to gather,
To make their apologies
Before his last breath.
Night falls
And he is past.

When the time comes that
The night finds me,
I hope my last words
Are not regrets
Whispered in the dark.